Outdoor Programs

Vermont's wilderness areas provide an attractive classroom for UVM students interested in developing outdoor leadership skills and understanding a more definitive relationship between adventure-based education and their environment.

Simply getting off campus to enjoy the beauty of Lake Champlain (the West Coast of New England!), the flowing rivers, rock crags and unique alpine areas in the Green Mountains makes being at UVM a more meaningful experience.

UVM Outdoor Programs provide direct support to students in pursuit of learning and adventure in the out of doors. The Assisant Director for Outdoor Programs provides leadership training and support to student wilderness leaders, advises the Outing Club (aka The OC), and manages the OC Cabin and indoor rock climbing facility.

Each August, UVM Outdoor Programs offers new students Wilderness TREK, a six-day wilderness orientation (hiking, sea kayaking or canoeing) experience, an adventurous way to get your career at UVM underway!

The Outing Club

The UVM Outing Club (UVMOC) provides 4-season wilderness trips, technical skill instruction and backcountry rental equipment to the UVM community. The Outing Club House is located next to the Dewey Psychology building on Main Campus. In addition to offering students wilderness trip options almost every weekend of the year,the OC also operates the Outing Club Cabin in Bolton, VT (a rustic meeting and training facility), the indoor rock climbing wall (located in the Gutterson Fieldhouse) and the bouldering hallway in the basement of Patrick Gymnasium.

The Outing Club House operates throughout the academic year and summer. It is one of the largest of our student organizations, meeting a diversity of wilderness interest and education. In 1997, the Outing Club was recognized by the Student Government Association as the Outstanding Student Organization of the Year!

Adventure Ropes Course

Our Ropes or Challenge Course programs consist of a planned progression of physical and mental activities for individuals and groups. One of our instructors will facilitate this progression. They will help you and your group to learn from your experience and to have fun! Our group size is limited to twelve people. If you are coming with a larger group you will be divided into smaller groups for most of your day.

The Mission of UVM Adventure Ropes Course is to provide and promote adventure-based, experiential learning and cooperative team-building opportunities for UVM and the surrounding community, utilizing the values and aspiration outlined in UVM's "Our Common Ground" which aspires to be a community that values: Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Openness, Justice and Responsibility.